A Bradford Bulls rugby league player has fled to his home country of Papua New Guinea after being charged with sexual offences including rape, a court heard today.
Keven Appo was given conditional bail on November 26 at 4pm – but by 8.40pm that night he had allegedly already boarded a flight from Manchester to Dubai.
The 25-year-old player, who lived in Halifax, subsequently arrived in Papua New Guinea via a connecting flight, Bradford Magistrates’ Court was told.
Appo had been due to appear at the court this morning – but an extradition process has now begun to return him to Britain, prosecutor Fiona Newcombe said.
She told the court that Appo gave the club’s manager his house and car keys, and that UK authorities would now work with police in Papua New Guinea to extradite him.
Keven Appo, pictured playing for Bradford Bulls against York City Knights on July 21, 2024
Keven Appo (centre) in action for Papua New Guinea during the 2022 Rugby League World Cup
West Yorkshire Police previously said the charges related to an investigation by Calderdale District’s adult protection team, following a report made in April 2024.
Appo, who was born in the Eastern Highlands province in Papua New Guinea, made his international debut for the country at the Rugby League World Cup in 2022.
He joined Bradford Bulls in 2023 but the club have now terminated his contract and signed Sheffield Eagles player Bayley Liu as a replacement, reported the BBC.
